Propelling device



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vPROPELLINIBI DEVICE.

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UNITED STATES .PATENT OTEFICE.

JOHN HOLT, OF LAWRENCE, MASSACHUSETTS.

PROPELLING DEVICE'.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 619,021, dated February '7, 1899.

Application filed April 30, 1898.

To a/ZZ whom it may concern,.- y

Be it known that I, JOHN HOLT, of Lawrence, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Propelling Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has relation to propelling mechanism actuated by the movements of a person sittin gin an oscillating or rocking seat, such mechanism being well adapted for the propulsion of boats or wheeled vehicles.

The invention has for its object to provide amechanism of this character having certain features of improvement and novel-ty, which I shall now proceed to describe and claim.

Of the drawings accompanying and forming a part of thisv specification, Figure l represents a perspective view of a mechanism constructed in accordance with my invention and applied to the propulsion of a boat. Fig. 2 represents an end elevation of the same. Fig. 3 represents a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Figs. 4 and 5 represent detail views in elevation and section, showing a lost-motion arrangement connected with one of the gears. Fig. 6 represents a view inside'elevation, showing my-improved mechanism adapted for the propulsion of a bicycle. Fig. 7 represents a section on the line 7 7 of Fig. 6.

The same reference characters indicate the same or similar parts in all the figures.

Referring for the present to Figs. l to 5, in-

clusive, of the drawings, a designates the h ull of a boat, and b designates a suitable supporting-base on which the propelling mechanism is mounted.

b' b are A-shaped standards pivotally supporting at their upper ends an oscillatory seat c, the latter having attached vto its under side a bracket c', through which the pintle c2 of the hinge passes.

d is a rocking beam adapted to rock or oscillate on the pintle c2 as a center and attached by means of adjustable bolts 03 o3 to ears c4 c4 on the under side 0f the seat. The rocking beam d extends forwardly and rearwardly from its pivot and has attached to its end at points d d two connecting or pitman rods e e. The latter are pivotally attached at their lower ends to two cranks ff, mounted on transversely-extending horizontal shafts f' f. The rods e consist of upper and lower sections oppositely screw-threaded at their opposed ends and connected by turnbuckles Serial No. 679,348. (No modeli) e' faQ-which serve as a means for properly adjusting the length of the rods. On the same shafts f' with the cranks fare mounted bevelgears f2 and iiy-wheels f3 f3, and meshing with the gears f2 are two bevel-pinions g' g', mounted on the ends of a longitudinally-extending horizontal shaft g'. The cranks f f are set at approximately a half -revolution apart and are arranged to revolve in opposite directions, so that the gears f2 f2 in rotating will both tend to turn the shaft g in one direction. On the latter shaft between its ends is mounted a large spur-gear g2, whose teeth mesh with those of a smaller gear or pinion h', mounted on a propeller-shaft h. The latter extends rearwardly through the stern of the boat and is provided with a propeller and,

loosely on its'shaft and provide a collarfl, (see Fig. 5,) which is rigidly secured to the shaft by kmeans of a set-screw f6 and has a pin f7, which project-s into a slot f8 in the gear. Any lost motion which occurs in the operation of the two cranks is taken up by this pin-and-slot arrangement.

The operation of the propelling mechanism is very simple and will be readily understood. A person sitting in the chair c places his feet upon the foot-rest t' and gives the chair a rocking or Oscillating motion on itsA hinge, thus actuating the rocking beam d and causing the revolution of the cranks and bevel-gears which transmit motion to the shaft g and, through the gears g2 and h', to the propellershaft h, causing the propeller to revolve and the boat to be driven forward or backward, v

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ing formed on or attached thereto, and at the lower end of said arm there is pivotally attached a horizontal connecting-rod 06,' which extends longitudinally of the boat and is adapted for attachment to an arm similar to the arm c5 on a second oscillating seat forming a part of another propelling mechanism, which may be similar to that shown and connected to the same propeller-shaft. In this way the power of two or any number of persons may be employed in propelling the boat. It is also evident that the seat c may be made of such dimensions as to accommodate two or more persons. Furthermore, it will be apparent that other well-known propelling means, such as side paddle-wheels, could be actuated by means of the mechanism which I have illustratedV and described.

My improved propelling mechanism is equally well adapted for propelling wheeled vehicles, and in Figs. 6 and 7 I have illustrated the said mechanism as applied to the propulsion of a bicycle. j designates the frame of said bicycle; k and 7d, the front and rear wheels, respectively; fm, the crank-axle, and m the forward chain-wheel or sprocket-wheel mounted in bearings of the usual or any suitable construction. c designates an oscillating seat, similar to the seat c shown in the.

previous ligures and hinged at c2 to the bicycle-frame in place of the ordinary seat. d is a rocking beam attached to and oscillating with the seat c and connected at its ends to 'pitman-rods e e, similar to those hereinbefore described, and provided with adjusting-turnbuckles e e. The forwardly-extending section of the rocking beam d is located on one side of the bicycle and is connected by means of its pitman-rod e to a crank ff on the end of'the crank-axle m. The rearwardly-extend* ing section of the rocking beam is connected by means of its pitman-rod e to a crank flo, which is keyed on the other side of the bicycle to the axle n of the rear wheel. On said axle is also secured a sprocket-wheel fn.' of equal size with the forward sprocket-wheel m' and connected therewith by. means of a chain n?. The axle n rotates in suitable antifrictionbearings 113914, carried by the frame. The rear wheel k rotates around the axle n, suitable bearings 915 being interposed between the two, and is driven in the usual manner by means of a chain o, connecting the forward sprocket-wheel m' with a smaller sprocketwheel 026 on the hub klo of the rear wheel, said sprocket-wheel n having two sets of teeth for the two chains n2 and 0. The cranks fg flo are set at half a revolution apart, and in this instance they revolve in the same direction.

6o p is a foot-rest attached to the lower forward turning the front wheel -in the ordinary man ner. In this form two rotary shafts or axles m and n are mounted in bearings below the seat and are provided with cranks f" flo, re' spectively, while the hub 7010 of the wheel 7o constitutes a third rotary shaft-a hollow one-connected with the first-mentioned shafts by means of the sprockets 01,6, chain 0, sprockets 'm' n', and chain n2.

I am aware that both boats and wheeled vehicles have been propelled heretofore by means of an oscillating seat, and I do not claim such an arrangement broadly.

I claim- 1. A propelling device comprising a hinged seat adapted to be rocked or oscillated by a person sitting therein, a rocking beam secured to and adapted to move with said seat, two rotary shafts mounted in bearings below said seat and provided with cranks set at half a revolution apart, pitman-rods connecting said cranks with the two ends of the beam respectively, a third rotary shaft, and connections between the said third shaft and the iirstmentioned shafts, whereby rotation of the latter due to the oscillation of the seat causes the rotation of said third shaft, substantially as described. I

2. A` propelling device comprising a seat adapted to be rocked or oscillated by a person sitting therein, a rocking beam secured to and adapted to move with said seat, two rotary shafts mounted in bearings below said seat and provided with cranks which revolve in opposite directions a half-revolution apart, bevel-gears mounted on said shafts, pitmanrods connecting the cranks with the two ends of the beam, respectively, a third rotary shaft provided with bevel-gears which mesh with the gears on the irst-mentioned shafts, and a compensating mechanism interposed between one of the cranks-and the third shaft and adapted to take up lost motion due to the unequal revolution of the cranks.

3. A propelling device comprising a seat adapted to be rocked or oscillated by a person sitting therein, a rocking beam secured to and adapted to move with said seat, two rotary shafts mounted in bearings below said seat, and provided with cranks which revolve in opposite directions a half-revolution apart, bevel-gears mounted on said shafts, pitmanrods connecting the cranks with the two ends of the beam, respectively, and provided with tu rnbuckles for varying their lengths, a third rotary shaft provided with bevel-gears which mesh with the gears on the first-mentioned shafts, and a compensating mechanism interposed between one of the cranks and the third shaft and adapted to take up lost motion due to the unequal revolution of the cranks.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN HOLT.

Vitnesses:

FRED H. EATON, WILLIAM J. BLAND.

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